My invention relates to steam condensers of the direct contact type wherein the entering water is caused to flow over the top edge of the circumferential wall of a weir to provide a downwardly-flowing and radially-convergent, or umbrella-shaped, sheet or curtain through which steam passes and is condensed and it has for its object to provide a weir which is constructed and arranged to have such flow condition of water 10 therein that the level of water above the top edge of the Weir will be kept at a minimum in order to provide for a more uniform and smoother flowing sheet and for more efficient operation.

With the ordinary weir construction, there is a 15 tendency for the water to pile up and run down the sides, necessitating reduction of the internal diameter of the first tray, baffle or deflector to at least that of the Weir. On the other hand, due to the means used in my improved weir to modify so the flow condition therein, piling up of water and running down at the sides is prevented, the flow being a uniform, smooth umbrella-like sheet, permitting of a relatively narrow tray or deflector, location of the weir relatively close to the top of the condenser shell, and reduction in resistance to flow of steam through the condenser. Accordingly, a further object of my invention is to provide apparatus of this character having these advantages.

Due to the aforementioned flow condition from the improved weir, it is possible to use relatively narrow trays or deflectors. Furthermore, such relatively narrow trays or deflectors may be made flat with the result that the increased horizontal component given thereby to the spray sheets of water issuing therefrom makes it possible to shorten the condenser. Furthermore, by breaking up the waters vertical path, the time for contact with steam is increased due to the fact that flow through the condenser is increased.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved weir in combination with deflectors or trays wherein the internal deflectors or trays are relatively narrow for this purpose.

Since it is possible to use relatively narrow fiat trays or deflectors, the baflle arranged below the weir construction and immediately below the uppermost tray or deflector may be made of relatively small diameter because of the radially inward deflecting effect of the uppermost tray or deflectonthe advantage of this construction being'that the weir and baffle may be readily removed without fouling or making it necessary to remove the trays or deflectors, this being advantageous, not only in construction and repair, but also in operation in that the resistance to flow of steam is minimized, thereby keeping the pressure drop through the unit 10W. Accordingly, a further object of my invention is to provide a construction having this particularly advantageous feature of construction and of operation.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified arrangement.

The type of barometric condenser wherein there is provided a succession of downwardlyflowing and radially-divergent and convergent sheets through which steam flows upwardly and is condensed, the uppermost sheet being provided by weir construction, is old and well known in the art. I have found that condensers of this type may be improved if the flow condition of the weir is arranged so as to minimize the level of water above the top edge of the weir.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, there is shown a vertical shell it having a steam inlet II and a water outlet l2 at the lower end thereof and an air offtake opening [3 at the upper end thereof. Steam flowing upwardly through the shell is condensed by the succession of downwardly-flowing and radially-divergent and radially-convergent water sheets I5, I45, H and I8, the uppermost sheet being provided by the weir, at H), the sheet I 5 issuing from the weir contacting the deflector flange extending inwardly from the shell and providing the sheet Hi, the latter engaging the conical deflector 2| from which issues the sheet ll and the sheet [1 being deflected by the flange 2?. to provide the sheet I8. While a succession of several sheets is referred to, it will be obvious that the number of sheets depends upon operating conditions and requirements.

Water is supplied to the weir, at l9, by a conduit 24 and the weir is provided by a receptacle 25 having an upwardly-extending circumferential wall 26 over the top edge of which water flows to provide the initial sheet l5. Preferably, the supply conduit 24 extends below the top edge 2'! of the wall 26.

The circumferential wall 26 of the weir has an inwardly-extending rib or deflector 28 arranged therein and which functions to cause water flowing upwardly adjacent to the Wall to be deflected inwardly so as to produce a flow condition minimizing the level of water extending above the edge 21, this flow condition being indicated generally by the dash lines. If the rib 28, or its equivalent, were not used, then a nonuniform flow condition would result. The water would tend to pile up and flow down the sides of the wall 25. Accordingly, the wall 26 is constructed and arranged, due to the presence of inwardly-extending rib 28, or its equivalent, to provide for inward direction of the upwardlymoving water so as to produce a flow condition of the latter minimizing its level in the weir above the top edge 21 thereof, whereby the water flows over the top edge with a minimum of turbulence and piling up and running down at the sides is avoided, with the result that flow from the weir occurs as a smooth, uniform, umbrella-like sheet or curtain [5.

Owing to the improved character of the umbrella sheet or curtain of water issuing from the weir, it is possible to make the uppermost tray or deflector 2% of an internal diameter substantially larger than the weir, since it does not have to intercept water running down at the sides of the latter. Furthermore, as the deflector or tray 28 may be made relatively narrow on this account, it is possible to achieve certain other structural and operational advantages. The deflector or tray may be made flat, with the result that the sheet or spray of water it issuing therefrom has a larger horizontal component of direction than would be the case with a dished or conical deflector, and this, in turn, makes it possible to provide a conical deflector 2| of relatively small diameter. By having the internal diameters of the deflectors or trays and 22 substantially larger than the weir and the conical deflector 2!, construction and repair of the condenser are facilitated in that the weir and the conical deflector may be inserted or removed without fouling the internal trays or deflectors 20 and 22. Furthermore, the increased horizontal component given to the sheets issuing from the trays of the deflectors 2i] and 22 makes it possible to shorten the condenser structure, this result also being aided by the improved weir in that the latter may be located relatively close to the top or cover 30 of the condenser shell. Furthermore, due to breaking up the waters vertical path, the time for flow through the condenser is increased, that is, the time for contact with steam is increased. The arrangement of baflles or deflectors gives the maximum amount of area for flow of steam, thereby keeping the pressure drop through the unit at a low value.

Preferably, the weir construction, at l9, and the conical deflector 2| are suspended from the cover 30 of the condenser, rods 3| depending from the cover being connected to the weir and to the deflector and serving to suspend the latter from the cover.

In Fig. 2, there is shown an alternative arrangement of condenser which is similar to that already described, except that the water supply conduit 24a is arranged to enter through the side of the shell Ill and has an elbow portion 32 connected to the bottom of the weir receptacle a, the elbow supply conduit serving as a support for the receptacle. Preferably, the conical deflector Zia is also carried by the supply conduit 24a, a member 33 being connected to the conduit 2%. and serving to suspend the deflector. The principal advantage of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is that the pumping head required to supply water to the weir is reduced by the relatively lower arrangement of the supply conduit as compared to Fig. 1.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a condenser, a vertical shell having a steam inlet and a water outlet at the lower portion thereof and having an air offtake at the upper portion thereof, a weir arranged in the upper portion of the shell and providing for the discharge of a downwardly-flowing and radiallydivergent water curtain for condensing steam flowing upwardly therethrough and means for supplying water to the weir, said weir including a receptacle having an upwardly-extending circumferential wall over the edge of which flows water to provide said sheet and means extending circumferentially of and radially inward from the inner surface of the wall to provide for inward deflection of water flowing upwardly adjacent to the wall so as to produce a flow condition minimizing the level of water in the receptacle above the top edge of the wall.

2. In a barometric condenser, a vertical shell having a steam inlet and a water outlet at its lower end and having an air offtake at its upper end, a weir arranged in the upper portion of the shell and providing for the discharge of a downwardly-flowing and radially-divergent water curtain and means for supplying water to the weir, said weir including a receptacle having an upwardly-extending circumferential Wall and a circumferential flange extending inwardly from the wall to cause water flowing upwardly over the top edge of the receptacle to be deflected inwardly so as to produce a flow condition minimizing the level of water in the receptacle above the top edge of the wall.

3. In a condenser, a vertical shell having a steam inlet and a water outlet at the lower portion thereof and an air offtake at the upper portion thereof, a weir arranged in the upper portion of the shell and providing for the discharge of a downwardly-flowing and radially-divergent water curtain for condensing steam flowing upwardly therethrough, an annular deflector carried interiorly by the shell and arranged below the weir so as to deflect the weir curtain or sheet radially inward thereby providing a downwardlyflowing and radially-convergent water curtain, a conical deflector arranged below the last-named deflector and serving to change the direction of water of the radially-convergent curtain in order to provide a second downwardly-flowing and radially-divergent water curtain, said weir including a receptacle having an upwardly extending circumferential wall, means for supplying water to the receptacle below the top edge of the wall, a circumferential flange extending inwardly from the wall to cause water flowing upwardly over the top edge of the receptacle to be deflected inwardly so as to produce a flow condition minimizing the level of water in the receptacle above the top edge of the wall, and a common supporting structure carried by the shell construction for supporting the weir and the conical deflector.

4. In a condenser, a vertical shell having a steam inlet and a water outlet at the lower end thereof and having an air offtake at the upper end thereof; means providing for a succession of radially-divergent and convergent downwardly-flowing water sheets in the shell for condensing steam passing upwardly therethrough and including an upper weir, means for supplying Water to the weir, a, conical deflector arranged below the weir, common means for supporting the weir and the deflector from the shell, and a flat annular deflector extending radially inward from the shell and arranged below the weir and above the conical deflector, said annular deflector having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of either the weir or the conical deflector; said weir including a receptacle having an upwardly-extending circumferential wall over the top of which flows water to provide the uppermost sheet and means extending circumferentially of and radially inward from the inner surface of the wall to provide for inward deflection of water flowing upwardly adjacent to the wall so as to produce a flow condition minimizing the level of water in the receptacle above the top edge of the wall and said annular deflector.